16 Players the Dallas Mavericks gave up on way too soon

4. Mark Aguirre

Aguirre is the only number-one overall draft pick in Dallas Mavericks history. The lottery did not start until 1985, so Dallas winning just 15 games in its inaugural season meant they got the top selection.

The 6’6 forward quickly cracked the rotation and averaged over 24 points per game in his second season. He was one of the best scorers of the 1980s, made three All-Star appearances, and was the team’s leading scorer during their 1988 run to the Western Conference Finals.

Mark Aguirre did not have the best relationship with the organization, and it led to a messy exit in 1989 as he traded to the Detroit Pistons. The 6’6 forward won two championships in Detroit as he transformed into a role player. Aguirre was the piece that helped the Pistons get over the hump and win the franchise’s first two rings.

Many believe Aguirre’s number 24 should be retired in Dallas. He was the leading scorer during the team’s first real run, and he helped get the Mavericks off the ground. His relationships with teammates and members of the organization may never make that possible, but he is a legend that deserves that honor. Mark Aguirre was the first move of many that slowly forced the Mavericks into a rebuild and a decade-long playoff drought before Dirk Nowitzki arrived.